Apparatus for inserting elongated tailed objects into open-topped receptacles



Feb. 23, 1965 F. c. GLEASON 3,170,231

GATED TAILED OBJECTS APPARATUS FOR INSERTING ELON INTO OPEN-TOPPED RECEPTACLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 \NVENTOR FRED C. GLEASON ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1965 F. c. GLEASON 3,170,231

APPARATUS FOR INSERTING ELONGATED TAILED OBJECTS INTO OPEN-TOPPED RECEPTACLES Filed 001;. 16, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A" INVENTOR x FRED OGLEASON 7O :19 /7) BY i ATTORNEY Feb. .23, 1965 F. C. GLERSQN FOR INSERTING ELONGA 3,170,237! AEBARATus TED TAILED oBJEc'rs INTO OPEN-TOPPED RECEHTACLES Filed 061;. 16., 1:952

3 Sheets-Sheet 3-5 INVENTOR FRED C. GLEASON BY W K ATTORNEY mm w P2 02 N2 5 N2 3 92 N. mv h- 21 p: i1

. United States Patent This invention relates generally to apparatus for inserting objectsof substantially similar configuration into receptacles therefor. lates to apparatus for automatically inserting one each of a series of elongated objects each consisting essentially of a structural enlargement at one end and a tail portion More particularly, the invention reextending from said enlargement, into a respective one of e a series of open-topped receptacles.

Although not restricted thereto, the invention is partlcularly useful for inserting one each of a series of Valves,

each comprising a cap or cup containing the valve mechanism and a dip tube dependent from said cup, into a respective one of a series of aerosol cans or containers conveyed on a feed line, preparatory to scaling of the aerosol valves to the containers and the filling of the latter with the dispensible fluid product and propellant. With the ever-widening acceptance of the packaging of fluid products in aerosol containers, it has become an increasingly greater problem to provide dependable, rapidly operating, substantially fully automatic means for such preparatory insertion of large quantities of aerosol valves into containers, to replace conventional laborious, time-consuming and costly manual operations. Moreover, increasing proportions of aerosol valves that are entirely of non-ferrous material are supplanting the formerly conventional aerosolvalves comprising a cap of ferrous material and a now ferrous dip tube. Hence, the use of the action of a magnetic field on the ferrous material cap during the inserting process, as has been taken advantage of in certain prior object-inserting machinery generally, is not now always feasible. Other elongated tailed objects of, for example,

plastic materials, such as integral dauber and stopper assemblies, dropper-cap units, and the like, present similar problems with respect to insertion thereof, by appropriate rnachinery, into the containers the tailed objects are destined for.

With the foregoing in View, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a'comparatively simple, highly efiicient and economic apparatus for automatically and continuously inserting one each of a plurality of elongated tailed objects into a respective one of a plurality of open-topped receptacles.

Itis another object of the invention to provide such apparatus which performs the desired inserting operation regardless of the nature of the materials from which the objects being inserted are made.

It is another object to'provide apparatus of the character referred to above wherein the objects to-be inserted are fed to the inserting mechanism thereof automatically and in oriented condition.

It is another object of the invention to provide such apparatus which positively assures the feeding of one of the oriented objects to said inserting mechanism thereof only when an open-topped receptacle is present for the insertion action.

Another object is to provide such inserting apparatus wherein the receptacles into which the objects are being inserted are automatically fed singly into the device.

elongate guide surface which cooperateswith the lower end ofthe chutes moving therepastto form therewith reice Yet another object of the invention is to provide an object-inserting apparatus. capable of inserting previously It is another object of the invention'to provide apparatus of the character referred to above and which is of particular utility for inserting aerosol valves in aerosol containerspreparatory to the sealing of such valves to said containers and the filling of the latter with the fluid to be dispensed and the propellant therefor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent as a .result of a better understanding thereof upon reference to the following description.

Generally, the invention resides in apparatus comprising a plurality of inclined chutes each adapted to receive an elongate tailed object and to conduct it downwardly tail first, means for moving said chutes laterally through a predetermined path, a first feeding means in said path for supplying an upright, open-topped container beneath the lower end of a respective one of said chutes while in a vertically disposed axially rotatable mounting stanchion or on an endless belt movable about vertically disposed axes for the purpose of moving the chutes laterally through said predetermined path. The inclinedchutes are preferably open at their upper sides to facilitate introduction ofthe elongate tailed objects thereto by said second feeding means. For the purpose of keeping the opentopped containers, that have been supplied upright to the bottom end of a respective one of said inclined chutes, in continuous alignment with the lower end of a respective chute moving through said predetermined portion of said path; it is preferred to have separate container abutting and retaining means mounted for movement witha respective chute. To assure proper entry of the elongate objects received in the chute and moving downwardly tail first, into the open-top of the container positioned therebelow, there is preferably provided in at least a section of said predetermined portion of said path, a laterally spective open-bottom funnels. The open-bottomed funnels function to permit the tails of the elongate objects to extend therethrough but retain the larger upper ends of said objects within the formed funnel until the end of the guide surface is reached by the laterally moving chute.

Desirably, automatic means are also provided for causing positive feeding of an elongate tailed object from said second feed means in response to proper alignment of'an inclined chute therewith. Preferably, in connection with said positive feeding means there are provided feed blocking means which render said positive feeding means inoperative if a chute moves therepast without an .opentopped container aligned therebelow.'

Container take-01f means are advantageously'provided to positively remove containers from the path of the chutes after the elongated tailed objects are properly posi tioned within the open tops of said containers. Means may be provided for positively causing the first feeding means to berendered operative for supplying an opentopped container beneath each of said chutes in synchronization with the positioning of the chute at a predetermined container loading station.

Several preferred embodiments of our invention are disclosed in the following description and drawings. It will be understood that the description and drawings are intended to be illustrative only and not to limit the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. Referring now to the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an aerosol valve-inserting apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the section being taken along lines 1--1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entire apparatus of which a part is seen in the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the feed chute and the upper region of one of the gravity filling chutes of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gravity feed chute being shown in the same operative relationship with said feed chute as shown in said figures;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the feed chute and gravity filling chute shown in FIG. 3 and taken along section line 44 of the latter, but with the relationship of parts as the gravity filling chute approaches the feed chute being shown in full line, and the relationship of the pick-off lever mounted on the gravity chute with the cup of an aerosol valve assembly supported in the feed chute, under normal operative conditions when an aerosol can is available for filling, being shown in broken lines;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view .of the same parts shown in FIG. 4 but under circumstances where no aerosol can be is available for filling and the pick-off lever is deflected from engagement with the aerosol valve cup in the feed chute, by the extension member of the solenoid core;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the device shown in FIGS. 1-5 but with one gravity filling chute moving clockwise beyond the feed chute as the next gravity filling chute approaches said feed chute, to illustratemore clearly the structural arrangement and operation of various parts;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an aerosol valve-inserting apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the section being taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the entire apparatus seen in part in the vertical cross-sectional View of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an aerosol valve as sembly illustrative of the type of elongated tailed objects that may be inserted into open-topped receptacles by apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this embodiment of the invention comprises a main support shaft 2 on which is rotatably mounted a mounting sleeve or stanchion 3, by hearing means not visible. Aflixed to mounting sleeve 3 for rotation therewith is a pulley in the sheave of which is mounted an endless driving belt 5 connected to driving means (not shown) for rotating the sleeve 3 in a clockwise direction as' viewed in FIG. 2. Also affixed to mounting sleeve 3 for rotation therewith is a circular container support 6. Above circular container support 6 and similarly mounted on sleeve 3 for rotation therewith is a star wheel 7. Each of the arms of star wheel 7 is contoured to permit rolling of a container 0 along the outer surface 9 thereof until the container is received within the contoured cut-out 10 and retained therein by the inner surface 11 of arm 8 as star wheel 7 rotates with sleeve,3. Afiixed to the top of mounting sleeve 3 also for rotation therewith is a mounting block 12 of generally hexagonal shape in plan (FIG. 2) but with sloping sides 13 (FIG. 1) for a purpose now to be described.

To each of sloping sides 13 of mounting block 12, there is respectively attached an inclined chute 14, by

means of its respective bottom edge 15. As seen in FIG. 1, due to the slope of sides 13 of hexagonal mounting block 12, chutes 14 mounted thereon are also sloped downwardly and outwardly. Each of inclined chutes 14 comprises a pair of substantially flat walls 16 inclined downwardly and inwardly toward each other and having the lower adjacent edges thereof comprising in conjunction the common bottom edge 15 to form a substantially V-shaped open-ended and open-topped inclined trough 17. Each pair of walls 16, of a respective chute 14 which they form, are disposed at an angle of inclination toward each other that is substantially equal to the angle of inclination of said chute, and the respective lower ends of said pairs of walls 16 terminate in straight edges 18 each disposed at an angle of inclination substantially equal to said angle of inclination of said walls 16 and said chute 14 for a purpose that will appear hereinafter. For this same purpose later to be described, the lowermost edge of each chute is horizon-tally truncated at 19.

Main stationary support shaft 2 has stationarily aflixed to the top thereof, a mounting sleeve 20. Mounting sleeve 20 carries an upper bracket 21 having two arms 22 and 23 that respectively have horizontal portions 24 and 25 which diverge outwardly from each other, and

vertical portions 26 and 27 that extend downwardly in substantially parallel relationship to each other. Carried by the lower ends of the vertically disposed bracket latter may sweep by the inner surface 29 of plate 28 almost in contact therewith and with the bottom edge 30 of plate 28 substantially horizontally aligned with truncated edge 19. With this arrangement, three-sided funnels 31 are formed with bottom openings 32 during the period that chutes 14 sweep by plate 28.

Mounted on the lower portion of mounting sleeve 20 is a second bracket 33 which has the'arms 34 and 35 thereof extending outwardly (FIGS. 1 and 2) and downwardly (FIG. 1). Bracket arms 34 and 35 are connected at the respective lower ends thereof to the lower end 36 of an inclined aerosol valve and dip tube assembly feed chute 37 for supporting the same. The upper end of feed chute 37 is connected to and supported by means not shown.

As best seen in FIGS. 3-6, feed chute 37 comprises a lower pair of spaced parallel strips 38 and 39 forming a lower slot 40 therebetween and an upper pair of spaced parallel strips 43 and 44 defining an upper slot 46 therebetween. Upper strips 43 and 44 are respectively aligned with and spaced above lower strips 38 and 39 whereby slots 40 and 46 are in alignment and a channel 47 is defined between said upper and lower strips. The exterior sides of strips 38, 39, 43 and 44 are attached as by welding to the interior surfaces of each of a plurality of generally rectangular brackets 48, whereby said four aligned strips are maintained in the stated relationships. Each bracket 48 has a discontinuity or slot 49 at its bottom in general alignment with slot 40 and a lower vertically disposed cut-out section 49a in its top reach in general alignment with slot 46, and a pair of horizontally disposed cut-out portions 4% in its inner side reaches in general alignment with channel 47. Thus, chute 37 is adapted to permit aerosol valve and dip tube assemblies 42 to slide down therein under the influence of gravity with the valve housings or cups 45 of said assemblies riding over the upper surfaces of said strips 38 and 39 in,

guided manner with the dip tubes 41 of said assemblies.

protruding downwardly through lower slot 40 (and slots 49 as the dip tubes 41 move therepast), and the valve ,stems 41a protruding upwardly through upper slot 46.

Upper strips 43 and 44 are additionally connected as at their lower ends by an integralcross strip 50a (FIG. 6)

whichhas depending therefrom a flange 58 (FIG. 3).

Depending flange 50 in turn has at its lower end an inward flange 51 directed towards but short of the truncated ends 52 of lower strips 38 and 39 and hence in eifect :functions as a continuation therefor with respect IOSUP- port of theflcups 45 of aerosol valves 42 which reach the lowermost end of chute 37. The ends52 of lower strips 38 and 39 and inturned flange 51 are spaced from each other to define therebetween a lowerslot 53 disposed transversely of lower slot 40. Upper strip 44 is provided with a bridge 54 therein having the higher reach55 thereof extending beyond and hence clearing the top extremity of the valve actuator. piece 41a of an aerosol valve assembly 42 which may become positioned in'the lower end of chute 37 with the cup 45 of theassembly abutting flange 58.

Affixed to the bottom surface of lower strip 38isa generally rectangular bracket plate 56 having a contoured .end 57 on the upper surface of which is fixedly mounted .asolenbid 58. Solenoid 58 has the usual core piece (not visible) which in this case has at one end thereof an extension 59 protruding therefrom 'and provided with a spring-retaining flange 60. The other .end of the core -In the presence of a container within a contoured cutout of star wheel 7-in the region adjacent chute 37, feeler end 70 is pushed by the side surface of the eontainer to the full line position. Toggle switch operator end 73 is thus pivoted away from abutment with toggle 66 to theposition shown in full lines in FIG. 6. The toggle then assumes the full-line o position to which it is normally biased, and causes de-energization of solenoid Each chute 14 has aiiixed thereto, at the upper edge of the wall 16 thereof that trails during the clockwise rota tion (FIG. 2) of all the chutes 14 with'hub 12, a'hin ge bracket 74 (FIG. 3). On the hinge pin 75 of bracket 74 there is pivotally mounted a generally L-shaped ejector finger 76, as by the lower end 77 of the latter. A spring 78 is mounted on the lower surface of each of said trailing walls 16 of chutes 14 by means of a shallow U-shaped bracket 79 (FIGS. 3 and 6). The lower. end 80 of each spring 78 bears against said lower surface of wall member 16 and the upper end 81 of spring 78 bears against the lower reach of L-shaped ejector finger piece has mounted thereon an abutment piece 62 comprising a downwardly extending arm .63. An expansion spring 61 encircles extension 59 and is maintained under thereof is centeredand hence movedto the right'(FIGS. 3 and ,6)--against the action ofspring 61, whereupon abutment piece 62 carrying downwardly extending arm 63 assumes the broken line-position 12 shown in FIG. 6.

Energization of solenoid 58 is controlled by a conventional toggle switch 64 mounted on strip 43 of chute 37 and connected in lead lines 65 from a source of electricity indicated schematically. Switch 64 has the toggle 66 thereof normally-biased by the usual spring means (not visible) to the oli position shown infull lines in FIG.-

6. Toggle 66 is movable against the action of said in- 'terior spring means to the"on position shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. 'The' means for moving togg'le66 to said on position arenow described below. 7

' A container-sensing arm 78 is pivotally mounted 'at one of its ends by means of a spindle 70a and has afiixed thereto, and spaced from said end, a short shaft 7 0b. Arm 7;) has attached to the free feeler end thereof a spring 71 which biases said arm 7 6 to the broken line position shown in FIG. 6 .when the absence of a container 0 beneath a respective chute 14'allows this to occur. 'A containersensinglinkage arm 67 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by meansof aspindle 68 afiixed to a bracket 69 mounted adjacent container support 6. Linkage arm 67 hasa slot 67a extending longitudinally in one end thereof and inwhich short shaft 70b of arm 76 rides. Arm 67 is provided at the other end thereof with a toggle-ope rating portion 73, which, when pivoted to the'broken line position shown in FIG. 6, functions to'push toggle 66 of switch 64 to the broken line position also shown in FIG. 6. As will alsoappear from FIG. 6, when spring 71 biases sensing arm 70 to said broken line position, linkage arm 67 is caused by shaft 70b riding in slot 67a to pivot to said broken line position thereof. In such position, the toggle-operating end 73 of arm 67 pushes toggle 66 to said on position whereupon solenoid 58 is energized.

76 to urge the. latter towards its normal uprightposition bestseen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Spring 78 is chosento be of sufiicient strength. to maintain ejector finger 76 in said normal upright position against, say, the free weight of an aerosol valve assembly 42, but to yield easily upon contact of finger 67 with an abutment, for reasons that will appear hereinafter. A stop lug 82 (FIGS. 4'-6) is mounted on the interior or upper surface of the respective trailing wall 16 and limits the pivotal movement of ejector finger 76 to its normal upright positionas appears in FIG. 4. Ejector finger 76 is generally located on wall 16 whereby the upper reach 83 of finger 76 is so positioned with respect to channel 53 (through lower strips p 38 and 39 of'said chute 37) and channel 47 (between upper strips 43 and'44 and lower strips 38 and 39) so that said reach 83 may ride laterally through said channels 53 and 47: asthe chutes -14 revolve in said clockwise direction.- 40

An' endless feed belt 84 of substantially the width-of the containers c to be delivered to the inserter mechathem, and provided with guide rails 85, approaches adjacent the periphery of container support 6 in a direction substantially radially thereof and at the same level thereof. A second endless belt 86 is provided adjacent the periphery of container support 6 and is similarly pro- Videdwith guide rails 87. However, insthis case, "endless belt 86 has the flexible web thereofstarting with its end 88 beneath container support 6 and generally tangentially thereof and extending in relation to the latter to pick up containers moving off container support 6 and to convey them to another location (not shown)-;where other operations may be performed. Endless belts 84 and 86 are provided with suitable driving "means" (not shown) for moving said belts in the direction of the respective arrows. -To aid in the removal and guidance of containers c from the contoured cut-outs 10 of star wheel 7, there is provided an endless guide belt 88 mounted on pulleys 89 and 90 which are respectively affixed to shafts 91 and 92 for rotation therewith. Shaft 92 is provided with a second pulley 93 afiixed thereto on which is mounted an endless-driving belt 94 connected to con ventional driving means not shown. 7

In the operation of the device described above,'chute 37 is loaded with a plurality of properly oriented aerosol valve assemblies 42 (FIG. 1) by any suitable means manually or automatically. A particularly useful automatically operating device for providing the aerosol valve assemblies 42 to chute 37 in the properly oriented relationship shown, is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 178,996 filed March 12, 1962.

less belt 84 which conveys said containers toward star wheel 7 and container support 6. As star wheel 7 rotates clockwise and presents a contoured surface 9 leading to a contoured cut-out portion 10 to the discharge ,end of belt 84, the lead container thereon is caused to outwardly facing periphery of said container 0 abuts feeler end 70 of sensing arm 67. Arm 67 is thus pivoted outwardly on spindle 68 against the biasing'action of spring 71 whereby the toggle operator end 72 of said arm 67 is pivoted out of contact with toggle 66 to permit it to assume its normal off position shown in full lines in FIGS. 3-6. Solenoid 58 is accordingly de-energized whereupon compression spring 61 urges extension 59 and with it abutment piece 62 to the full line position shown in FIG. 6. With abutmentpiece 62 and arm 63 thereon withdrawn, ejector finger 76 mounted on wall 16 of chute 14 is not deflected from its upright position shown in full lines in FIG. 4'and maintains such position as reach 83 of ejector finger 76 moves into abutment with the valve portion 45 of the aerosol valve assembly 42 positioned in the lowermost region of chute 37 (as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 4). Reach 83 of ejector finger 76 then continues to bear on valve portion 45 of the assembly 42 and pushes the latter laterally to the right as viewed in FIG. 4, through channel 47, as finger 76 is maintained in upright position by spring 78. As aerosol valve assembly 42 is continued to be urged by upnently afiixed to said container prior to conventional filling thereof.

right finger 76 to the right as viewed in FIG. 4, the valve finger piece 41a of assembly 42 thereof passes beneath bridge 55 and the dip tube 41 thereof passes through channel 53 as does ejector finger 76. The aerosol valve assembly 42 then drops off said feed 37 and into chute 14 with dip tube 41 lowermost. Assembly 42 then slides downwardly in the chute 14 under the influence of gravity and because of the inwardly inclined Walls 16 ultimately settles with the valve portion 45 riding in the lowermost part of the V of chute 14*that will accommodate the diameter of said valve portion 45.

At about the same time that a chute 14 is approaching the region of chute 37, the inclined end 18 of said chute 14 wipes by funnel-completing plate 28. During the time that said chute continues its lateral movement adjacent said plate 28, the valve assembly 42, dropped into the chute, moves downwardly therein. The three-sided funnel formed by walls 16 of chute 14 and plate 28 directs the dip tube 41 of assembly 42 until dip tube 41 enters and then drops through opening 32 provided in the bottom of the funnel by truncated edge 19, and continues I downwardly into the open upper end of the container c As the aforesaid container 0 continues to be moved by star wheel 7 and container support 6 toward the beginning of endless belt 86, said container abuts said guide belt 88. Belt 88, being athwart the circular path of the container and moving in the direction of the arrows, causes ultimate removal of the container from the contoured cut-out in star wheel 7 and off support 6, and finally, deposit of said container on the upper surface of endless belt 86. During this same time, as chute 14 clears plate 28, the aerosol valve assembly 42 therein is free to drop substantially completely into the open upper end of the container therebelow. Endless belt 86 then conveys the container c with the aerosol valve assembly fully positioned therein to a crimping station (not shown) at which the inserted valve assembly 42 may be perma- In the event that a contoured cut-out 10, for any reason at all, does not have a container 0 positioned therein below the associated chute 14, as said chute approaches the region of said feed chute 37, sensing arm 67, in such case, will not be pivoted against the biasing action of spring 71 to the full line position shown in FIG. 6. Instead, sensing arm 67 will assume the broken line position shown which causes the toggle operating end 73 thereof to position toggle 66 to the on position shown in broken lines. The closing of switch 64 energizes solenoid 58 whereupon the core thereof (not visible) is centered against the biasing action of spring 61 and causes arm 62 to extend to the broken line position. In such positioning of the parts, downward extension 63 on arm 62 is located in the path of the next on-coming ejector finger 76. Extension 63 then functions to deflect ejector finger 76 backwardly against the biasing action of spring 78, as illustrated in FIG. 5. 'As the chute 14 continues its movement in the direction of the arrow, ejector finger 76 is released and is moved towards its upright position by spring 78. Since said chute 14 is moving laterally at the same time, ejector finger 76 does not assume its upright pick-off position (FIG. 4) until chute 14 has sufficiently cleared feed chute 37, to render finger 76 inoperative for its'valve assembly pick-off function. Thus, it is assured that no aerosol valve assembly 42 is picked-01f feed chute 37 and dropped into a chute 14 which does not have a container 6 therebelow ready to receive a valve assembly.

Reference is now made to the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this embodiment, a rotatable shaft 102 mounted in an upper bearing and bracket support member 120 and a lower bearing member (not shown), has affixed thereto for rotation .therewith a stanchion 103 of hexagonal cross-section, each face of which has mounted substantially centrally thereof a gear tooth 106. An endless belt 112, comprising separate plate sections 113 connected at their vertical edges by pivotal hinge connectors 113a, is mounted on said hexagonal stanchion 103. The plates 113 are each provided with an aperture 115 with which gear teeth 106 are in alignment. Afilxed on said shaft 102 below stanchion 103 is a gear 104 on which is mounted driving chain 105 connected to driving means (not shown). A second stanchion shaft and bracket support assembly (not shown) similar to the assembly described above, is mounted at the other end of the device and supports the other end of endless belt 112 to permit driving of the endless belt on said stanchions in the direction of the arrows by said gear 104 and driving chain 105.

' Each of plates 113 has aflixed thereto a chute 114 of substantially similar construction to chutes 14 of the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. l-6. Thus, each chute 114 comprises a pair of inclined walls 116 each having the lower edge thereof terminating in a sloping extremity 118 and being truncated at the lowermost end 119 to provide an aperture 132. Each chute 114 is maintained at a predetermined slope with respect to the substantially vertically disposed plates 113 by mounting means 113b. Also mounted on each plate 113 but at the lower trailing edge thereof is an elongate arm 108 which functions to engage and move containers 0 therewith as described in greater detail hereinafter.

An inclined feed chute 137 is positioned so that its discharge end is immediately above the path of chutes 114 as they pass a straight segment of said path. Feed chute 137 is of generally similar construction to feed chute 37. Said feed chute 137 comprises lower strips 138 and 139 and upper strips 143 and 144 which are held in proper relationship by a plurality of generally rectangularlyshaped brackets 148 provided with similar vertical and horizontal cut-out portions 149, 149a and 14% as in brackets 48 to permit clearance of the dip tubes 41, valve shape.

closely adjacent the path nected to driving meansnot shown.

finger pieces 41a and cups 45 of the'aerosolvalve assemblies 42 sliding down'therein. The lower end of said chute 137 is supported bya bracket 121 mounted on the mounting sleeve 120 in which'shaft 102 rotates. Also supported by bracket 121 are a solenoid 158 and an escapement supporting bracket 167 of substantially L- Pivotally mounted at the freeextremity of L- shaped bracket 167 by means of apivot pin 168, is a generally shallow U-shaped escapement lever 176 having" the downwardly extending ends 170and 173 spaced apart I a slightly greater distance than the diameter of the valve cups 45 of the assemblies 42 sliding in chute 137, The core piece (not visible) of solenoid '158 has connected cent'end 173 thereof; Also supported by bracket 121 is a funnel-completing plate 128, which in this case is of generally fiat rectangular configuration. As in the previous embodiment, plate 128 is positioned and maintained of. the sloping edges 118' of chutes 114. I

, Ithereto. extension arm 162, the lowerend, of which is pivotally connected at 163, to escapement lever 176 adjafit) t 1 In the operation of the embodiment of the, invention described immediately above, as in the previous embodi- 'ment, the feed chute 137 is loaded with properly oriented aerosol valve assemblies 42. Since solenoid ;158'isdeenergized, core piece ext'ensioi1162 is fully extended downwardly under'the influence of gravity to hold the lower end 1730f escapement lever 176 in the path of the valve cup 45 of the'lOwermostassembly 42 to'retain f fall assemblies 42 inchute"137-;. Similarly, Containers c .10:

are supplied (by means not shown) to endless belt 184 between guide rails 185, as indicated in FIG.{8. There Containers c advance between guide rails 185 until the An endless belt 184 is positioned with an edge thereof I adjacent the line of travel of plates 112 as the latter move through one portion of their straight path. Endless belt 184 is mounted on a pair of rollers, oneof which is shown in FIG. 7 at 188. Roller 188 is affixed to a shaft 189 mounted for rotation in bearings 190' provided ina pair of stanchions 191. Affixed to one end of shaft 189 is a pulley192 on'which is mounted a driving belt 193 .con-

9 Endless belt 184 has a width substantially greater than twice that of the containers 0 that are conveyed therebyfor the purposes that will now appear. 7

Over the upper surface portion of said endless belt 184 there are maintainedin. parallelrelationship, -a pair of guide rails 185 for directing containers 0 along the surface of the half of the width of endless belt that is remote from the path of plates 113bearing'chutes 114. Guide rails-185'terminate at 186 in the region where chutes 114 move from their generally arcuate path about stanchion 103 and into the straight portion oftheir path on their way to the second stanchion (not shown); A second solenoid 195 isprovided which has attached to the core (not visible) an extension 159 with an endflange 160 retaining on extension 159 a spring 161. At the'other end of the core of solenoid 195 there is affixed a flat surfaced pusher member 185a, the vertical surface thereof functions as an extension of the guide rail 185 located adjacent the extreme left edge of belt 184 as said FIGS. 7 and 8. I

Acombined stop and pressure switch member 196 is positioned directly in the path of containers 0 moving on endless belt 184 between guide rails ,185. Pressure switch member 196 is urged by a lightspring 197 awayfrom a pair of contacts 198 located in conductor wire 165 which is connected into solenoid 195 and thence to one terminal of a source of electric power indicated schematically. The circuit is completed by a second. conductor wire 165:: which is connected through atoggle switch 199 to one of the contacts 198. Toggle switch 199 is of a conventional design wherein an interior spring (not visible) urges the toggle 200 to the full line off position shown in FIG.' 8. As will be apparent from inspection of said figure,

toggle 199 is positioned in the path of the distal ends of arms 108 whereby as each of said arms 108 sweeps by toggle200, the latter is momentarily positioned to the on position indicated in broken lines. A guide rail 187 is positioned along endless'belt 184 to maintain containers 0 (being carried by arms 108) against plates 113. Protruding through an aperture in said guide rail 187 is a push button 166 of a switch 164 connected by electric conductor leads 165!) into leads 165 and 165a. Button 166 of switch 164 is urged outwardly to its normal ofl? position by spring means (not shown) and controls energ'ization of solenoid 158 via leads 165a.

viewed in shown in full lines.

lead container abuts pressure switch 196, to press it ultimately to switch-closing relationship with contacts 198 in the-circuit to solenoid .195. As the next ap' proaching arm 108 on a respective plate 113' bearing a chute 114 sweeps by toggle 200 of switch 199, said arm- 188 pushes toggle 200 to the on position indicated in broken lines (FIG. 8) and, after clearing toggle 200, permits it to snap back to the normal off position Thus, cyclically, as a space 110 between adjacent arms108 ispresented opposite pusher surface 185a, the circuit from the electric power source via leads 165 and 165a to solenoid195 is fully completed momentarily. Solenoid core extension 159 is immediately urged towards the right as viewed in FIG. .8,

against the biasing action of compression spring 161, and by means ofrpusher surface 185a ejects the container 0 abutting said surface 185a (and the now-closed pressure switch 196) towards plate 113 and into, the. space 10 between the arm 108 on the preceding plate 113 and the arm 108 which has just urged toggle 208 to the onposition. belt 184 is slightly slowerthan the lateral speed of end less belt 112, the'ejected container c comes to rest in Due to the fact that the speed of endless the space 110 against the leading edge of the arm 108. Said container c, upon abutment with guide rail 187, is urged against plate 113 and is thereby properly aligned beneath the respective chute 114, as is illustrated in FIG. 8.

Upon ultimate abutment of the outer peripheral surface of container 0 with push button 166 of. switch 164, V

the electric circuit is momentarily completed to solenoid 158 via leads 165a and 165k. Thereupon, the core eX- tension piece 162 thereof is pulledupwardly and'with it the lower end 173 of 'escapement 176 to cause counterclockwise pivoting of the latter on pivot 168. Thus,

the'lowermost valve assembly 42 is released to slide oil? the lower open end of feed chute 137 and drop into a chute 114 then aligned therewith; The valve assembly- 42 that was immediately behind the one justreleased is, at this time, prevented from descending any further than the upper end of escapement 176 which abuts the valve actuator piece 41a of 'said valve assembly. As soon as said container c clears push button 166, the latter is spring-biased to protruding off position, whereby solenoid 158 is de-energized. The coreand its extension 162 drops under the influence of gravity and the escapement lever 176 again assumes the position shown in FIG. 7. With end 170 of escapement lever 176 lifted and end 173 thereof lowered, assemblies 42 slide downwardly in chute 137 under gravity until the leading assembly 42 is stopped upon abutment with lowered end 173. Feed chute 137 and the associated release mechanism is thus set for the next succeeding feeding cycle upon momentary closure of switch 164 by the next advancing container 0. Obviously, if for some reason a container c is not located beneath the chute 114 aligned withfeed chute 137, push button 166 of switch 164 is merely not actuated and no valve assembly 42 released.

Prior to abutment of a container with push button 166, the chute 114 associated with the arm 108 mounted on the same plate 112 passes in sweeping alignment with funnel-completing plate 128 to form a three-sided funnel having a lower opening 132 in the bottom thereof. The valve assemblies 42 descend in the respective chutes 114 and into the bottom of the formed funnels in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. However, in this case funnel-completing plate 128 may be extended to the length considered necessary to permit.

complete settling of the aerosol valve assembly 42 in the lower portion in the formed funnel, even though the funnels (and of course endless belts 184) are moving at a continuous and comparatively rapid rate.

While several preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, as will readily appear to those skilled in the art, various modifications thereof are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the appended claims. Merely by way of example of the variations possible, chain or other drives may be substituted for belt drives, and vice versa; the slopes of the various chutes may be varied from those shown, other container-feeding, guiding and takeoif means may be substituted for those illustrated; similarly, the assembly feeding device may be modified in certain instances. Also, the loading chutes may be caused to travel in an endless path not necessarily horizontally disposed, but may be at an angle thereto.

Hence, it will be understood that the term laterally,

as used herein and in the appended claims, is intended to encompass directions varying from the horizontal to the extent where the intended operations and functions of the device in accordance with the invention may still be performed. i

I claim:

1. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers, said apparatus comprising a plurality of inclined chutes each adapted to receive an elongate tailed object and to conduct it downwardly tail first, means on which said chutes are mounted in laterally adjacent relationship, means for moving said mounting means with said chutes thereon laterally through a predetermined path, a first feeding means, means mounting said first feeding means for discharge in said path for supplying substantially upright open-topped containers beneath the lower discharge end of a respective one of said chutes while in said path, means mounted adjacent said path for maintaining each of the containers beneath a respective one of said chutes for a predetermined portion of said path, second feeding means, and means mounting said second feeding means for discharge in said path for supplying an elongate tailed object tail down to a respective one of said chutes as the latter is in said portion of said path.

2. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers, said apparatus comprising a plurality of inclined chutes each adapted to receive an elongate tailed object and to conduct it downwardly tail first, means on which said chutes are mounted in laterally adjacent relationship, means for moving said mounting means with said chutes thereon laterally through an endless predetermined path, a first feeding means, means mounting said first feeding means for discharge in said path for supplying a substantially upright open-topped container beneath the lower discharge end of a re-' spective one of said chutes while in said path, means mounted adjacent said path for maintaining each of said containers beneath a respective one of said chute for a predetermined portion of said path, laterally elongate guide surface means, means mounting said guide surface means for extending in said path adjacent the lower ends of said chutes to form therewith respective openbottom funnels, second feeding means, and means mounting said second feeding means for discharge in said path for supplying an elongate tailed object tail down to a respective one of said chutes as the latter is in said portion of said path adjacent said guide surface means.

3. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers, said apparatus comprising a plurality of inclined chutes eachadapted to receive anelongate tailed object and to conduct it downwardly tail first,

nieans' on which said chutes are mounted in laterally adjacent relationship, means for moving said mounting means with saidfchutes thereon laterally through an endless predetermined path, afirst feeding means, means mounting said first feeding means fortdischarge in said path for supplying a substantially upright open-topped container beneath the lower discharge end of a respective one of said chutes while in said path, means mounted adjacent said path for maintainingeach of the containers beneath a respective one of said chutes for a predetermined portion of said path, laterally elongate guide surface means,

' means mounting said guide surface means for extending tionship with said second feeding means for rendering the latter operative.

4. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers, said apparatus comprising a plurality of inclined chutes each adapted to receive an elongate tailed object and to conduct it downwardly tail first,

meanson which said chutes are mounted in laterally adjacent relationship, means for moving said mounting means with said chutes thereon laterally through an endless predetermined path, a first feeding means, means mounting said first feeding means for discharge in said path for supplying a substantially upright open-topped container beneath the lower discharge end of a respective one of said chutes while in said path, laterally elongate guide surface means, means mounting said guide surface means for extending in said path adjacent the lower ends of said chutes to form therewith respective open-bottom funnels, means mounted adjacent said path for maintaming each of the containers beneath a respective one of said chutes for a predetermined portion of said path, second feeding means, means mounting said second feeding means for discharge in said path for supplying an elongate tailed object tail down to a respective one of said chutes as the latter is in said portion of said path adjacent said guide surface means, first sensing means responsive to positioning of each of said chutes in said path in object-receiving relationship with said second feeding means for rendering the latter operative, and second sensing means responsive upon lack of a container beneath each of said chutes as it is in object-receiving relationship withsaid second feeding means for preventing rality of inclined chutes each adapted to receive an elongate tailed object and to conduct it downwardly tail first, means on which said chutes are mounted in laterally adjacent relationship, means for moving said mounting means with said chutes thereon laterally through an endless predetermined path, a first feeding means, means mounting said first feeding means for discharge in said path for supplying a substantially upright open-topped container beneath the lower discharge end of a respective one of said chutes while in said path, laterally elongate guide surface means, means mounting said guide surface means for extending in said path adjacent the lower ends of said chutes to form therewith respective open-bottom funnels, means mounted adjacent said path for maintaining in' said path for supplying an elongatejtailed object tail down to a respective one of said chutes as the latteris in said portion of said path adjacent said guide surface means, first abutment means mounted in said path :and operative upon positioning of each of said chutes in said path in object-receiving relationshipxwith said second feeding means for causing discharge of an object from said second feeding means, and second abutment means mounted in said path and responsive upon lack of a contalner beneath each, of said chutes as it is in object-receiving relationship with said second feeding means for preventing said first abutment means from becoming inoperative.

6. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers as claimed in claim wherein said second feeding means comprise an object guideway having a lateral channel therein and said first abutment means comprise a pick-off finger mounted on each of said chutes and positioned to pass through the lateral channel in said position in which said arm passes through said discharge I end of said feedchute (6) when a respective one of said .g-inclined chutes (2) moves therepast.- I

10. Apparatus forlinserting elongate tailed objects into i open-topped containers :as claimed in claim 9 wherein an extendable abutment arm is located adjacent said discharge end of said feed chute and is positioned in the-path t of said pivoted arms when both said abutment arm and guideway as each of said chutes move therepast whereby an object is pushed off said second feeding means and dropped into each of said chutes.

7. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers, said apparatus comprising:

(1) a vertically disposed shaft mounted for rotation;

(2) a plurality of inclined chutes mounted on said shaft and disposed radially outwardly and downwardly thereof; said chutes being open at their upper sides and bottom edges and terminating in a lower sloping edge; a Y

(3) a circular container-supporting floor mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith a predetermined distance below said chutes whereby containers may be supported below said chutes;

(4) container-abutting and retaining means also mounted on said rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, said abutting and retaining means being positioned between the lower ends of said chutes and above said 'floor, and said means having a plurality of arms each adapted to align and retain a container beneath a respective one of said chutes;

(5) a substantially arcuate plate, means mounting substantially arcuate plate for extending horizontally in the path of the lower sloping edges of said chutes for a predetermined limited portion of said path, said plate being adjacent to and inclined along said slopingedges of said chutes and forming therewith separate funnels; 5

(6) a feed chute for a plurality of elongate tailed objects, means mounting said feed chute for having the discharge end positioned above the path of said inclined chutes in the region of said open upper sides thereof;

(7) means located on each of said inclined chutes for picking off a singleobject from said discharge end of said feed chute as each of said inclined chutes passes said feed chute;

(8) means mounted adjacent said path for feeding containers to said container-supporting floor and said container-abutting and retaining means; and

(9) means mounted adjacent said path for removing each container from said floorand said retaining means after the container has been filled with a respective object and has been carried clear of said arcuate plate.

8. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers as claimed in claim 7 wherein said container-abutting and retaining means (4) comprise a star-wheel having forwardly curved arms.

9. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pick-otf means (7) located on each of said inclined chutes comprise a pivoted arm resiliently biased to an extended in approaching one of said pivoted arms are, in extended positions; and means are provided for extending said extendable arm when one of' said inclined chutes with said pivoted arm thereon approaches said discharge end of said feed chute without acontainer below said inclined chute and for maintaining said extendable arm in retracted position if a container is present below said inclined chute.

11. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers, said apparatus comprising: 7 (1) a pair of spaced vertically disposed shafts mounted for rotation;

(2) an endless vertically disposed belt comprising a plurality of hinged sections mounted on said shafts;

(3) a plurality of inclined chutes each mounted on a separate one of said hinged sections and disposed outwardly and downwardly thereof, said chutes being open at their upper sides and bottom edges and terminating in a sloping edge;

(4) a wide container-supporting movable floor mounted hinged sections for movement therewith, saidlast named means being positioned between the lower ends of said chutes and above said first portion of said-floor, said means comprising a plurality of arms each adapted to align and retain a container beneath a respective one of said chutes;

(6). a substantially straight plate, means mounting said plate for extending horizontally in the path of the lower sloping edges of said chutes for a predetermined straight portion of said path defined by said floor, said plate'being adjacent to and inclined along said sloping edges of said chutes and forming therewith separate funnels;

(7) a feed chute for a plurality of elongate tailed objects, means mounting said feed chute for having the discharge end positioned above said straight portion of said path of said inclined chutes in the region of said open upper sides thereof; s (8) means operatively associated with said feed chute and responsiveto the presence of a container beneath a respective one of said inclined chutes as said chute approaches said discharge end of said feed chute for dropping a single object from said discharge end of said feed chute;

(9) meansmounted adjacent said path for retaining containers on a portion of said container-supporting movable fioor adjacent said first portion thereof and remote from said inclined chutes; and p p (10) means mounted adjacent said path for moving a single container at a time from said second portion of said floor to said first portion thereof and beneath a respective one of said chutes prior to approach of -said,chutes to said discharge end of said feed chute.

- 12. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers as claimed in claim 11 wherein said container-abutting and retaining means (5) mounted on said hinged sections has a part thereof which functions to actuate said means (10) for moving a single container at a time from said second portion of said floor to said first portion thereof.

I 13. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into open-topped containers as claimed in claim 11 wherein said fioor (4) is an endless horizontally disposed belt mov- 15 16 able in the same direction as said endless vertically dis- References Citedby the Examiner posed belt (2) but at a slightly lesser speed. i

14. Apparatus for inserting elongate tailed objects into UNITED PATENTS; open-topped containers as claimed in claim 12 wherein 2,155,958 4/39 I Schmidt 29208 said means (10) for moving a single container at a time 5 2,570,903 10/51 Yost 221-172 from said second portion of said floor to said first por- 2,928,165 3/60 Carlzen et a1 29.203

tion thereof is provided with sensing means for rendera ing said means (10) actuatable by said part of said con- WHITMORE A, WILTZ, Primary Examiner. tainer-abutting and retaining means only when a container is available to said means (10). THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR INSERTING ELONGATE TAILED OBJECTS INTO OPEN-TOPPED CONTAINERS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INCLINED CHUTES EACH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN ELONGATE TAILED OBJECT AND TO CONDUCT IT DOWNWARDLY TAIL FIRST, MEANS ON WHICH SAID CHUTES ARE MOUNTED IN LATERALLY ADJACENT RELATIONSHIP, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOUNTING MEANS WITH SAID CHUTES THEREON LATERALLY THROUGH A PREDETERMINED PATH, A FIRST FEEDING MEANS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID FIRST FEEDING MEANS FOR DISCHARGE IN SAID PATH FOR SUPPLYING SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT OPEN-TOPPED CONTAINERS BENEATH THE LOWER DISCHARGE END OF A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID CHUTES WHILE IN SAID PATH, MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID PATH FOR MAINTAINING EACH OF THE CONTAINERS BENEATH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID CHUTES FOR A PREDETERMINED PORTION OF SAID PATH, SECOND FEEDING MEANS, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECOND FEEDING MEANS FOR DISCHARGE IN SAID PATH FOR SUPPLYING AN ELONGATE TAILED OBJECT TAIL DOWN TO A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID CHUTES AS THE LATTER IS IN SAID PORTION OF SAID PATH. 